Shay Given was last night hailed as "the best goalkeeper in the Premiership" by Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

Shay Given was last night hailed as "the best goalkeeper in the Premiership" by Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

The Newcastle goalkeeper may play only half of tomorrow night's friendly international against Denmark, because McCarthy may give a chance to Hibernian's Nicky Colgan.

But there is no doubt in the manager's mind that Given will be first choice for the Republic at this summer's World Cup finals in Korea and Japan.

"Shay is the best goalkeeper in the Premiership this year," said McCarthy. "I suppose I should say `arguably' the best because some people will argue with me, I'm sure, but in my opinion he is.

"His main attribute is simply that he stops the ball going in the net. He has always been a top-class goalkeeper, ever since he made his senior debut against Russia in 1996.

"People look at him between the sticks and think `he is not Edwin van der Sar' who is 6ft 5in, or that he doesn't have a huge frame.

"There has always been the criticism that he is not that big, but he is as tall as me and I reckon I am a big fella. I would say he is the most agile keeper. He does things in training that get a round of applause for the saves he makes.

"What he has improved on is when the ball is at his feet, but then all goalkeepers had to improve because the game is such that they have to use their feet and become better footballers."

McCarthy has been boosted by the news that Coventry defender Gary Breen has reported fit for duty.

Breen looked like becoming the sixth player to withdraw from the original squad of 25, after failing to appear for Coventry in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham. The 28-year-old had been struggling with a hamstring injury but McCarthy said: "Gary is OK.

"He was fit to play for Coventry yesterday but they decided they didn't want to risk him for that game.

"However, they were happy to let him come here so I am pleased."

That gives McCarthy a 20-man squad and he will resist the temptation to call up John O'Shea from the Under-21s.

The five men missing are Roy Keane (hip), Mark Kennedy (groin), Sunderland's Kevin Kilbane (groin), Lee Carsley (knee) and Newcastle's Andy O'Brien (ankle). Another player missing from the side who beat Russia last month is Richard Sadlier, who faces surgery on a hip injury.

Charlton's Mark Kinsella is set to return to the side, and be given the chance to stake his claim for a place in the centre of midfield.

McCarthy has has promised to field a strong side, rather than an experimental one.